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British seaman served with Merchant Navy in Atlantic, 1939-1941; mate served aboard SS Jutland in Convoy PQ 7B in Arctic, 1941-1942; officer served aboard SS Beckenham in Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, 1942-1944

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REEL 1 Background in Hull, 1918-1939: family; education including training at The Boulevard Nautical School; period as apprentice cadet with Prince Line, 1934-1938; reasons for giving up career at sea, 1938; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Recollections of operations as merchant seaman in Atlantic, 1939-1941: how he was directed back to Merchant Navy, 9/1939; reasons for promotion to third mate despite poor eyesight, 3/1941; effect on morale of dangers of Atlantic convoys; opinion of protection provided by Royal Navy during convoys; quality of food available on merchant ships; worsening convoy dangers; opinion of organisation of British convoys; attitude towards U-boat crews. Recollections of operations as third mate aboard SS Jutland during Convoy PQ 7B in Arctic, 1941-1942: attitude to serving aboard ship; memories of Leonard Cheshire as passenger; accommodation on board; problems with icing.
REEL 2 Continues: order for convoy to scatter, 1/1942; lack of contact with German forces during convoy; discharging cargo in Murmansk; relations with Russians ashore in Murmansk; problems feeding and entertaining crew in Murmansk; character of Russians. Recollections of operations as office aboard SS Beckenham in Mediterranean, Atlantic and Indian Ocean, 1942-1944: story of suspected poisoning of Captain Morton in Buenos Aires, 1944; atmosphere aboard ship; opinion of the Watts Watts Line; voyage carrying alcohol and railway engines from US to Egypt, 1943; mining of ship during voyage from Malta to Tripoli; damage caused by mine and return to Malta; breakdown of ship off Somaliland; regattas organised in Mombasa during three month stay; avoiding Axis raiders in South Atlantic.